Author's Note:
Hi, guys! I have not forgotten about HEA, although I am putting most of my free time and effort into Pemberley's Guardians. I had a problem with my laptop yesterday and I couldn't write or do anything at all, so thank you for your patience! Juggling two stories is harder than I thought it would be. How do writers manage more than two is beyond me, but I will do my best for you :)
Here's another chapter of this fluffy story!
Stay safe!
Jen
"Well, then," she smiled mischievously at him before she swung them around so she was on top of him, and with more confidence than she had ever felt in her two and twenty years, she whispered seductively: "I shall do all the work for you, Mr. Darcy. Lie back and enjoy."
It was the most arousing thing he had ever heard in his life and he could only nod like a green boy as his wife took over. Since he was a smart man, he obeyed his wife, lay back and enjoyed one of the delights of being back home.
52.
Bennet's first birthday was celebrated at Pemberley with their closest family members and came and went without any incident. He awed his uncles, aunts, and grandparents by saying "Mama," "Papa," and "no" decidedly, among all his babbling, and walking quite well for his age. In spite of the fact that it terrified Fitzwilliam, Elizabeth insisted on giving Ben the opportunity to move freely as long as he was supervised, and even though he still winced every time he saw his son fall, he realised that a small child's bottom seemed to be more resistant than he had first supposed, as Bennet never seemed to be in pain unless others fussed over him.
Soon, the time for Georgiana, Mary, and Kitty's introduction to society approached. This had been a decision taken by both Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bennet, though the latter needed some convincing.
"The girls are already out in Meryton," he argued.
"Yes, but they did not have a big debut in London, did they?" Mr. Darcy asked.
"You know I dislike London, Darcy."
"I know, that is why I am offering to take the girls in your place. Anne will sponsor them."
"Lady Anne shall wish to take them to events among the ton. The girls do not have the appropriate gowns and I cannot pay for the dozens they each shall need."
Mr. Darcy waved his hand in dismissal. "I shall pay for it."
"I cannot ask that of you."
"You are not asking. I hope you know, Bennet, that I love Lizzy as if she were my own daughter and therefore, I consider her sisters my own, too. I wish to do this for them and it shall be no trouble at all. Besides, Georgiana adores them and she shall feel better with them by her side."
Mr. Bennet seemed to mellow at Mr. Darcy and Georgiana's love for his daughters and had only one last argument against the idea.
"Kitty would love it, I know, but I am not so sure about Mary."
"We shall speak to them, then. Of course, I shall not force them if it is not their wish."
Surprisingly, Mary accepted. Although she was still not sure about the balls and the attention, she was delighted at the idea of spending some months with the Darcys. Mr. Darcy even promised them that while they lived at Pemberley or Darcy House, they would receive the same education Georgiana did. Soon, Mary found that her love for music could indeed become a skill with the guidance of a good master and Kitty discovered that she was truly talented with a brush. The three girls acquired new gowns that were fashionable but adapted to their own styles and tastes and were taught the manners and etiquette they were expected to have and follow.
Mr. Darcy had also offered to increase the girls' dowries, but this was something that Mr. Bennet could not accept.
"I know about the money that Fitzwilliam had to pay for that cad to marry Lydia. And you are now giving my daughters an opportunity I could not give them. The least I can do is increase their dowries myself."
"Can you do that?" Mr. Darcy asked.
"Yes, though with some difficulty. Jane and Lizzy barely spent any money so their absence has not increased the size of my coffers, but Lydia was another matter altogether. If Mary and Kitty live with you for a few months and I can convince Mrs. Bennet that the girls need a more suitable dowry, I shall manage to accumulate a decent amount. But, I confess I am not truly worried. Their connections to your family will help them and I would prefer them to marry men who seek their hands, not their money."
"Yes, fortune hunters are a problem. Georgiana's dowry is quite substantial. It shall not be easy to determine who is interested in her and who is interested in her money."
Unfortunately, it would have been impossible to keep Mrs. Bennet from accompanying her daughters to their grand introduction. Fortunately, having two daughters so well married, another married to an officer, and two daughters being presented in the ton had calmed her down to a considerable degree. It had also increased her sense of self-importance, but now she appeared as any other match-making mother from the ton.
Soon, their introduction was upon them and Elizabeth found herself with three anxious sisters to calm down. Each of them had their own worries. She turned to Mary and saw her frowning in worry. She had become more social lately but was still uncomfortable in crowds and Elizabeth thought she feared no one would ask her to dance.
"You look beautiful, Mary. I do not think I have ever seen you this handsome," she said to her nervous sister.
"Do you think a gentleman shall ask me to dance?" she voiced her fears. "It would be so embarrassing if no one does."
"A gentleman? I am sure there will be plenty."
She truly thought Mary looked more beautiful than ever. Her light blue gown was still quite simple and modest, but silky and pretty, not at all severe as her previous gowns. Her hair was not pulled back in her usual plain style but beautifully adorned with plaits and small flowers. The fact that she was more relaxed, smiled more and preached less only made her prettier.
Kitty was a little lost. She was used to following someone's lead, and though she was very taken with Georgiana, the latter was not a natural leader. Still, Elizabeth was proud of her younger sister's courage and growth this last year. She had shown herself to be intelligent and talented without Lydia's influence. She could tell she was anxious, but there was also a gleam of excitement in her eyes that she could not hide. She was very beautiful in her silk lavender gown and she looked more confident the longer she spent with the Darcys.
"You need not hide under anyone's shadow," Lizzy said to her, softly so only she would hear it.
Those few words were exactly what Kitty needed to hear.
Georgiana was a bundle of nerves. She had all of Fitzwilliam's shy and reserved nature without his confidence. She feared attracting fortune hunters like Wickham and the idea of being the centre of attention was overwhelming to her. She did think she looked quite handsome in her silky pink gown and knew that her sisters' presence would ease her discomfort enormously. She had been the one to beg her father to convince Mr. Bennet to let the girls come out with her and now she was very relieved that her father had been able to accomplish the task. She adored Lizzy, but she knew her sister would not be able to spend every minute next to her, and the youngest Bennets' company did much to ease her worries.
"Everything shall be fine," Elizabeth said to them. "You are all beautiful and worthy of attention. And most importantly: you are loved. No matter what happens tonight, I am proud of each one of you."
"What if people do not like me?" Georgiana asked.
"Everyone with sense will like you, and everyone without it is not our concern," Elizabeth replied. "You are all handsome, intelligent, and talented, and you come from respectable families. Hold your head high," she tilted her sisters' chins affectionately, "and remember you are gentlemen's daughters. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You deserve respect. Believe in that."
"Is that what you do to be so confident, Lizzy?" Kitty asked.
"It is what I have always done," Elizabeth said softly as if it were a secret, making the girls giggle.
"I applaud you, my dear," they heard Mr. Darcy said from behind Elizabeth as the other Darcys joined the young ladies.
"Your sister is completely right, girls," Lady Anne added.
"But who are these handsome women, my love?" Fitzwilliam asked his wife. "They cannot be our sisters since they were young girls this morning."
The three young women in question blushed and smiled at the compliment while his wife laughed.
"I have turned you into a charmer. Ben?"
"With Mrs. Harris."
"We are ready to go, my dear," Lady Anne said and they all left for the girls' first ball.
Despite the girls' worries, everything went smoothly. Each of them was presented and none of them lacked partners. Elizabeth was delighted to see that their confidence seemed to increase as the evening progressed and soon they seemed to be enjoying themselves and even enjoying the attention under the strict eyes of Mr. Darcy and Fitzwilliam. Mr. Gardiner, Mrs. Gardiner and Mrs. Bennet soon joined them to watch over the girls and celebrate their coming out.
"Have you seen Kitty?" Fitzwilliam suddenly asked his wife, taking her hand discreetly and brushing the back of it with his thumb.
"Yes, of course, what about her?" Lizzy asked, watching Kitty dancing merrily with a young gentleman.
"She reminds me of you."
"Does she?" Elizabeth said, surprised.
"Among your sisters, she is the one who looks the most like you, but it is not only that. She is lively and witty once she grows comfortable."
"I suppose you are right."
"She is also twenty now, the same age you were when we met."
"Am I an old woman already, sir?" she teased him.
"Oh, yes, you are quite ancient at three and twenty."
Elizabeth laughed. "You must be such an old man, then, at thirty."
"And soon to be one and thirty. I do know how I keep up with my lively wife."
"I am old but lively then! That is not so bad, but Kitty shall have to be careful, for in three short years she shall become an old woman too. As my dear Charlotte would say, I hope she secures someone before that ripe old age."
Fitzwilliam chuckled. "If she truly is like you, she shall make her husband a very happy man."
"Are you a very happy man, Mr. Darcy?"
"I have felt little but happiness in the last two years, Mrs. Darcy," he smiled tenderly at her and could not help but kiss her forehead even though they were in public. "Dance with me."
Elizabeth gasped in fake astonishment. "The Great Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley is asking me to dance? Me? A simple country girl?"
"You are many things, Elizabeth, but simple is not one of them," he said and, taking her hand, walked to join the other couples dancing.
I do not own any Pride and Prejudice properties, nor do I make any money from the writing of this story.
Characters and situations, created by Jane Austen, are taken from Pride and Prejudice and from the Pride and Prejudice (1995) adaptation created by Simon Langton and distributed by BBC.
This story is released under the GPL/CC BY: verbatim copying and distribution of this entire work are permitted worldwide, without royalty, in any medium, provided attribution is preserved.
